HE WAS MARKED FOR MURDER: SECRETS
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me; they are property of D.C. Comics, Warner Bros., and Millar/Gough. None of the other copywritten networks, magazines, stores, brands, places or people belong to me either.
Notes: Part Three
Best regards,
-J.B. @ Waveland 10/5/02
Comments? Email me anytime: EscapeToCity@aol.com **************************************************************************** *******************
SECRETS
"Nothing yet, Sawyer?"
"Nothing, Dan. Zip."
"Lex Luthor had to have somebody gunning for him. Nothing on the bullets? Nothing to trace?"
"Not one eyelash or print."
"Damn...damn....damn!"
"We're gonna get canned from the Special Crimes Unit..."
Dan Turpin shook his head. For as long as he could remember he and Maggie Sawyer had been able to catch the bad guys. What was so different about this case...?
"Dan...we gotta look at this from a different angle maybe..."
"How so?"
"Luthor lived here. In Metropolis. But he didn't always live here."
"Sawyer...Lex Luthor was a zillionaire, for Christ's sake....he lived all over....how would we ever be able to check out all those leads?"
"Lex traveled extensively, Turpin, that's true....but he only lived in two other cities for any real lengths of time-- New Haven, Connecticut and Smallville, Kansas."
"That's right...he went to Yale. But I never knew he lived in Smallville. When was this?"
"Years ago. I should be getting a printout here in just a second with all the specs."
"You figure some college buddy or a corn queen wanted him dead?"
"Somebody did, Turpin. Somebody who's still out there."
"Secret lover?"
"Secret anybody who might provide us with a lead."
"Everybody's got secrets, Maggie. I bet Luthor had billions of 'em."
**************************************************************************** ***
I've been watching her for minutes. I've been watching her for hours. Bet Mom & Dad are worried. Told them I was going back to Fortress. I hate to lie to them.
I've been watching her for days.
She was part of Lex's life. She has to know something. She has to help me. I feel like I'm going insane.
I hear him screaming out to me in my sleep. I wake up crying because I know he must have been in so much pain.
Lex. Why wasn't I there for him?
Ever since I left my training at the Fortress, I've been trying to figure out a way to help people. The people of the world. Save them from catastrophe and themselves.
I'm having other thoughts now.
I'm not sure I want to live now that he's dead.
Why couldn't I ever tell him...?
I secretly keep watching her. She's gorgeous to be sure. I watched her steal some kind of yellow diamond this morning from Shreck's. She's good. She goes out all hours of the night. She drinks all the time. She smirks all the time. Just like Lex used to. There's pictures of that scowling, rich guy all over the place. She must really love him. Yeah. She's good. Real good. If she's this good at theft...who knows what she might have done to Lex.
I keep watching...
**************************************************************************** *****
She had insisted on separate residences upon their marriage....he had no problem with it, of course.
They led quite interesting lives.
Dual variations on apocalypse.
Sometimes on the same team, often battling it out until their mouths met, blood stained kisses and scratchy leather...writhing on cracked, wet pavement.
Everyday was rife with darkness and heat and passion....and fun. She still sometimes got away with her crimes. She knew, deep down, he understood her need.
Shiny things. All alone in glass boxes. Control. Domination.
Like his needs.... His need for the night. His need for her heart.
She looked out at the rainy sky...stopping to admire the rather handsome diamond brooch she had resuced from that pretentious department store.
"You look so much happier here." She smiled. The diamond shimmered.
Gotham spread out below her, retched and weary....so much the opposite of bold, lavish, bright Metropolis....
Metropolis.
She wasn't sure if she could ever go there again. He'd been a good friend. She'd never tried to lift anything from his houses. Well...maybe just that once. He knew who she was. She knew he was lonely. Both she and her husband tried to give him the extended family he so desperately needed.
Neither one of them could compete with fields of gold, far in the western sky... She had often wondered, since his death....did that special someone know how much Lex cared? Did they love him return?
Once...in Cabo...she & Bruce & Pat & Alfred were laughing, playing cards...Lex was passed out in the adjoining room....he began to scream. So loud. It stayed with her for days...screaming about bridges, ice...and water....deep...and corn and beauty and love and a boy.... They all sat with him for hours trying to calm him. Everyone tried to help Lex.
Pat caught hell...many around Lex claimed she didn't try... Oh...but Pat...she did try. Lex was a tough case. Fucked from the womb.
Pat... Selina had never truly gotten inside her mind. Bruce never did either.
She always seemed aloof. Loving yet isolated.
Poor Patty Beaumont, they used to call her. Poor in love but rich in cash.
Selina & Bruce tried to be there for Pat as well... She never seemed to need it like Lex did.
Sometimes she wouldn't call for weeks...
They both wrote it off as indifference. The blues. Sad childhood.
She shrugged, then said aloud... "We all had sad childhoods."
The rain was picking up. She wondered what Bruce was doing at the moment.
Business. He was thrilling to watch. The way he moved. The power he wielded....and yielded.
She adored him. And he her.
**************************************************************************** *****
The wind slammed against the sliding glass door... Uneasily...she stepped towards it....
"Bruce! Is that you?"
He was notorious for just showing up out of the black.
"Bruce?"
No....think....Bruce...he's out of town....fuck....
Nothing. The lights fell dark and Selina began to purr. Shame Kitty had to go to the groomers. Alfred's such a stickler for such things.
Maybe I should go out....do a little patrolling of my own...
She looked down the hallway, past the framed picture of Lex Luthor, to a deep closet where a single item hung.
"Ahh.....the Cat. She's calling...."
The thunder rolled again...the wind spun....
Selina Wayne moved slowly down the hallway thinking of a good tongue bath....from Bruce of course....
She almost didn't hear the footsteps down the marble hallway...
Within seconds, whip in hand, she re-entered the den.
"Show yourself or die!" ...snarling into the blackness.
"Now!"
She heard a man. Breathing. Not for long.
"Please....please....ummm..."
She readied her whip....her wrist shaking eagerly....don't tell me, she thought....another Gotham druggie rapist come to see the Cat....how boring....
"Die!"
The whip snapped backwards then froze. She found herself stuck. No man...not even Bruce....had kept her from cracking her weapon before. Then she felt her feet leave the ground.
Uh-oh.
Holding fast to the whip, she gritted her teeth, staring forward.
"Who are you?"
The meek voice returned...this time from above her head...
"Clark.....I'm Clark Kent."
Selina screamed as she turned her gaze upward to see a man floating...the end of her whip held firmly in his huge hand.
"Oh God...sorry....sorry...I promise I won't hurt you. Please. Please, Mrs. Wayne. I was Lex's friend. I need your help."
She screamed until her voice gave out. Then...silence. Steady breathing. From the floating man. She couldn't say anything. Was this the Joker's work? Oh...hell...and she'd just gotten her nails done. Bruce....oh....Bruce....
She found her composure. Remember who you are, Selina.... He's just a man. A floating man. A man. Barely that from his voice.
"Let me down....please.....Clark. If you are a friend of my late friend....you will do that."
She heard the click of a flashlight.
"Ooops...I'm so, so, so very sorry, ma'am."
She found herself lowered back onto the floor. She nearly fainted as she watched Clark sink down towards the floor, turning himself upright as he did so....
Maybe I'm dead. Maybe I have dementia. Maybe too much catnip. Too much wine. Maybe it's just dark in here and that flashlight is dying.
Clark stopped for a few seconds, hovering over the terazzo floor.
Nope. He was floating.
"What are you?"
He backed a few feet away from her, settling to the floor, hands at his sides. He looked kind. Even sincere. His eyes were dazzling. Blue. Green. Like the Hope. Yes...like the Hope itself, locked away in damned D.C.
"I'm Clark. Ummm....I knew Lex in Smallville. I thought you could help--"
"Clark...what ARE you?"
Lightning flashed outside. She was certain she saw rosy cheeks. He chuckled lightly...
"I'm just Clark. Nobody. Well...somebody...somebody who cared greatly for Lex and wants to find out what happened to him."
This was no enemy. He certainly wasn't sent by Harley and her twisted clown spouse. Smallville?
He was strong. Big. Bigger than Bruce even. Probably not where it counted....but....he could kick some major ass, that's for sure. And floating! My God....he can probably fly. Keep it controlled, Cat....you still don't know why this character broke into your place...
"How did you get in, Clark? Why come to me?"
The lights returned....washing the room in their glow...
He's crying.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wayne....I-I-I...saw you...at the funeral in Metropolis...read in the Planet that you and Lex were friends....I didn't know how to reach you. Your office wouldn't take my calls. So I flew up here. And...I....watched you...."
"You watched me?" Ohhh....kinky....and cute....he'd better not get Bruce jealous...
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Wayne--"
"Selina. Always Selina. Nobody calls me Mrs. Wayne except Alfred."
He's smiling....such a sad smile. "T..Thank you. I am sorry I scared you."
Smallville? Meteor shower....years and years ago. Bruce spent millions trying to help the locals.
"You didn't scare me. I did nearly kill you."
"Yeah....ummm....like I said....I need to find out what happened to Lex."
Lex. The mention of his name brought back years of memories....again and again.... A truly decent guy. One of the few. What did this kid have to do with him? He's obviously much younger than Lex. Smallville....that bastard Lionel banished Lex there....yes....Bruce tried to get him to move to Gotham....but for some reason...some reason... *Clark* Lex stayed for quite a few years there...
"What were you to Lex Luthor, Clark?"
He's looking away again. Suspicious. Or Guilty. Maybe both. Don't tell him what you know. Got to talk to Bruce first. Bruce promised we would look into that. Secrets. Lex had so many.
"Ummm....Selina...Lex...he....he...I loved him."
Loved him? This is corn boy? Hot damn! I certainly see why, Lex. Oh yeah....I see why.
"He never mentioned you, I'm sorry."
His eyes are welling with tears. I don't want to hurt him....but--
"Lex is dead, Clark. Dead. And before he was dead he was married. Married, Clark. Do you know what that means?"
"Of...of course...I do."
He's looking down. Damn me for being cruel. But Lex is dead and this golden floating god standing in front of me can't change that. No one can.
"I miss him...." Clark breaks into tears and they fall wash over his cheeks.
"I do too, Clark."
"Was he happy before he died? I mean...umm...was his marriage happy?"
"I think so. As happy as most marriages are."
Are you sure, Selina?
"Good. I didn't want him to be alone. He was always afraid he would be left alone....he...umm....he....d..d...died alone....."
A wail escapes his lips and they tremble...
The sound breaks my heart.
I take his hand in mine... "Clark...Lex was happy....I promise....I want you to know that the Lex Luthor I knew was a wonderful man. My husband and he were great friends, people respected Lex....my husband--"
"H..H...H...Husband? Oh, man...if he comes--"
"You know who he is then?"
"Yeah....Bruce Wayne, right?"
"Yes."
"He's like the richest guy in Gotham City. Maybe even richer than Lex was."
He doesn't know.... Secrets.... Bruce...damn This kid can fly and somehow you've still stayed under whatever radar he has. Your mastery of stealth never fails to amaze me, husband... It also probably helps that I just remembered you're in Houston for a week trying to wrap up that deal with Royal Dutch Shell.
"My husband is very successful, Clark. But it's alright. I don't think anyone but me saw you here."
"Mrs. Wayne....Selina....please...please just answer this one question for me..."
"I'll try, Clark. Shoot."
"Do you have an idea of who might have killed Lex?"
Honestly I don't. Bruce and I have gone over every shred of evidence. Every tape. Every folder. Nothing.
Whoever did this seems to have vanished into the night. We did find that one thing...well.... Can't think about that now...
This poor kid. He must've really loved our pal Baldy. I loved you too, friend.
"No...Clark...and it is tearing all of us up. All of us who loved him. I wish I could help you."
Fucking lousy Metropolis Police. So-called Special Crimes Unit. They need a Cat in that town. And certainly a Bat.
His face is streaked. The lighting had stopped....the thunder is far away from here now...
"Would you like something to drink, Clark? Maybe sit down for a minute."
I really do feel sorry for him.
"No....umm....I gotta get home. Selina....I'm glad Lex had you for a buddy....I'm sorry I scared you....I am....please don't be mad."
"I'm not, Clark. Remember that Lex is gone. None of us can bring him back. You must grieve and move on, young man. Otherwise you will lose your own life to sadness."
Bruce....God....I don't want to see this guy end up like us.... He exudes goodness.... And quickly fading hope...
"Yeah...umm..well...it's late....I gotta go."
"Take care, Clark Kent. If you ever need to talk, you can come again. But please use the elevator next time."
My whip gives out pretty swift punishment, Clark. You got lucky.
"O.K.....good-bye, Mrs. Wayne."
A rush of air about me and he's gone.
No human can move that fast. No man. He's not a man. No wonder he was so damned polite.
Lex. Pat. Clark. Shit. Can't think anymore about any of this tonight.
Pat... Why haven't I called her lately?
Bruce...what will you think of all this? Clark....you are damned lucky you didn't break in here while the Bat was in residence... Pain.
Secrets...
Purr........
***************************************************************************
They sat together every day. Every night.
Neglecting chores. Neglecting feedings.
They waited for his daily call.
Their child was hurting. Sure, he was a 6'4, 225 pounder.... But he was still their little boy.
The letters... They'd found him sprawled on the barn floor, weeping....his fists pounding into the dirt...making ten foot holes and ruining the foundation....
The letters... Lex had really cared for him....but had gone away to let Clark live his own life.
Now....Clark's life was filled with tears.
Everyday. He called. Same time.
"Kelex told the funniest joke." "Lara's holoimage showed me Argo City...it was beautiful." "Kelex just told another funny joke."
Somehow they knew he wasn't at the fortress. Their son was a horrible liar. Always had been, thank God.
The sounds of city traffic and horns and bells gave it away.
Still...they let him keep up the illusion that he was safe, encased in his icy Kryptonian wonderland thousands of miles away...
They had to trust him. Trust him to be a man. Do what he felt he had to. In his own way. On his own terms.
They knew in their hearts Clark would find a way to deal with all of this. They had raised him to be a fine man. Jor-El & Lara had given him gifts and wonders unknown to any on Earth.
"I miss you and I love you both so much!"
Jonathan & Martha Kent had given him a conscience and a soul...and as they sat watching the moon rise, they knew Clark would come through.
***************************************************************************
He'd made sure no one was around.
He'd been here before. Just after the funeral.
He came here often now.
He saw him. Lex..... Lex.....
That smile.
He pressed his lips to the photograph....and felt the frame break....
(The camera sensed movement...whirred to life....filming....sending its digitized images...)
"I love you," he whispered....
Somewhere else, someone grinned as they watched a nervous Clark rush about the penthouse...frantically picking up shards of glass.
(shards....secrets....of the past....)
END of Secrets
HE WAS MARKED FOR MURDER will continue...
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me; they are property of D.C. Comics, Warner Bros., and Millar/Gough. None of the other copywritten networks, magazines, stores, brands, places or people belong to me either.
Notes: Part Three
Best regards,
-J.B. @ Waveland 10/5/02
Comments? Email me anytime: EscapeToCity@aol.com **************************************************************************** *******************
SECRETS
"Nothing yet, Sawyer?"
"Nothing, Dan. Zip."
"Lex Luthor had to have somebody gunning for him. Nothing on the bullets? Nothing to trace?"
"Not one eyelash or print."
"Damn...damn....damn!"
"We're gonna get canned from the Special Crimes Unit..."
Dan Turpin shook his head. For as long as he could remember he and Maggie Sawyer had been able to catch the bad guys. What was so different about this case...?
"Dan...we gotta look at this from a different angle maybe..."
"How so?"
"Luthor lived here. In Metropolis. But he didn't always live here."
"Sawyer...Lex Luthor was a zillionaire, for Christ's sake....he lived all over....how would we ever be able to check out all those leads?"
"Lex traveled extensively, Turpin, that's true....but he only lived in two other cities for any real lengths of time-- New Haven, Connecticut and Smallville, Kansas."
"That's right...he went to Yale. But I never knew he lived in Smallville. When was this?"
"Years ago. I should be getting a printout here in just a second with all the specs."
"You figure some college buddy or a corn queen wanted him dead?"
"Somebody did, Turpin. Somebody who's still out there."
"Secret lover?"
"Secret anybody who might provide us with a lead."
"Everybody's got secrets, Maggie. I bet Luthor had billions of 'em."
**************************************************************************** ***
I've been watching her for minutes. I've been watching her for hours. Bet Mom & Dad are worried. Told them I was going back to Fortress. I hate to lie to them.
I've been watching her for days.
She was part of Lex's life. She has to know something. She has to help me. I feel like I'm going insane.
I hear him screaming out to me in my sleep. I wake up crying because I know he must have been in so much pain.
Lex. Why wasn't I there for him?
Ever since I left my training at the Fortress, I've been trying to figure out a way to help people. The people of the world. Save them from catastrophe and themselves.
I'm having other thoughts now.
I'm not sure I want to live now that he's dead.
Why couldn't I ever tell him...?
I secretly keep watching her. She's gorgeous to be sure. I watched her steal some kind of yellow diamond this morning from Shreck's. She's good. She goes out all hours of the night. She drinks all the time. She smirks all the time. Just like Lex used to. There's pictures of that scowling, rich guy all over the place. She must really love him. Yeah. She's good. Real good. If she's this good at theft...who knows what she might have done to Lex.
I keep watching...
**************************************************************************** *****
She had insisted on separate residences upon their marriage....he had no problem with it, of course.
They led quite interesting lives.
Dual variations on apocalypse.
Sometimes on the same team, often battling it out until their mouths met, blood stained kisses and scratchy leather...writhing on cracked, wet pavement.
Everyday was rife with darkness and heat and passion....and fun. She still sometimes got away with her crimes. She knew, deep down, he understood her need.
Shiny things. All alone in glass boxes. Control. Domination.
Like his needs.... His need for the night. His need for her heart.
She looked out at the rainy sky...stopping to admire the rather handsome diamond brooch she had resuced from that pretentious department store.
"You look so much happier here." She smiled. The diamond shimmered.
Gotham spread out below her, retched and weary....so much the opposite of bold, lavish, bright Metropolis....
Metropolis.
She wasn't sure if she could ever go there again. He'd been a good friend. She'd never tried to lift anything from his houses. Well...maybe just that once. He knew who she was. She knew he was lonely. Both she and her husband tried to give him the extended family he so desperately needed.
Neither one of them could compete with fields of gold, far in the western sky... She had often wondered, since his death....did that special someone know how much Lex cared? Did they love him return?
Once...in Cabo...she & Bruce & Pat & Alfred were laughing, playing cards...Lex was passed out in the adjoining room....he began to scream. So loud. It stayed with her for days...screaming about bridges, ice...and water....deep...and corn and beauty and love and a boy.... They all sat with him for hours trying to calm him. Everyone tried to help Lex.
Pat caught hell...many around Lex claimed she didn't try... Oh...but Pat...she did try. Lex was a tough case. Fucked from the womb.
Pat... Selina had never truly gotten inside her mind. Bruce never did either.
She always seemed aloof. Loving yet isolated.
Poor Patty Beaumont, they used to call her. Poor in love but rich in cash.
Selina & Bruce tried to be there for Pat as well... She never seemed to need it like Lex did.
Sometimes she wouldn't call for weeks...
They both wrote it off as indifference. The blues. Sad childhood.
She shrugged, then said aloud... "We all had sad childhoods."
The rain was picking up. She wondered what Bruce was doing at the moment.
Business. He was thrilling to watch. The way he moved. The power he wielded....and yielded.
She adored him. And he her.
**************************************************************************** *****
The wind slammed against the sliding glass door... Uneasily...she stepped towards it....
"Bruce! Is that you?"
He was notorious for just showing up out of the black.
"Bruce?"
No....think....Bruce...he's out of town....fuck....
Nothing. The lights fell dark and Selina began to purr. Shame Kitty had to go to the groomers. Alfred's such a stickler for such things.
Maybe I should go out....do a little patrolling of my own...
She looked down the hallway, past the framed picture of Lex Luthor, to a deep closet where a single item hung.
"Ahh.....the Cat. She's calling...."
The thunder rolled again...the wind spun....
Selina Wayne moved slowly down the hallway thinking of a good tongue bath....from Bruce of course....
She almost didn't hear the footsteps down the marble hallway...
Within seconds, whip in hand, she re-entered the den.
"Show yourself or die!" ...snarling into the blackness.
"Now!"
She heard a man. Breathing. Not for long.
"Please....please....ummm..."
She readied her whip....her wrist shaking eagerly....don't tell me, she thought....another Gotham druggie rapist come to see the Cat....how boring....
"Die!"
The whip snapped backwards then froze. She found herself stuck. No man...not even Bruce....had kept her from cracking her weapon before. Then she felt her feet leave the ground.
Uh-oh.
Holding fast to the whip, she gritted her teeth, staring forward.
"Who are you?"
The meek voice returned...this time from above her head...
"Clark.....I'm Clark Kent."
Selina screamed as she turned her gaze upward to see a man floating...the end of her whip held firmly in his huge hand.
"Oh God...sorry....sorry...I promise I won't hurt you. Please. Please, Mrs. Wayne. I was Lex's friend. I need your help."
She screamed until her voice gave out. Then...silence. Steady breathing. From the floating man. She couldn't say anything. Was this the Joker's work? Oh...hell...and she'd just gotten her nails done. Bruce....oh....Bruce....
She found her composure. Remember who you are, Selina.... He's just a man. A floating man. A man. Barely that from his voice.
"Let me down....please.....Clark. If you are a friend of my late friend....you will do that."
She heard the click of a flashlight.
"Ooops...I'm so, so, so very sorry, ma'am."
She found herself lowered back onto the floor. She nearly fainted as she watched Clark sink down towards the floor, turning himself upright as he did so....
Maybe I'm dead. Maybe I have dementia. Maybe too much catnip. Too much wine. Maybe it's just dark in here and that flashlight is dying.
Clark stopped for a few seconds, hovering over the terazzo floor.
Nope. He was floating.
"What are you?"
He backed a few feet away from her, settling to the floor, hands at his sides. He looked kind. Even sincere. His eyes were dazzling. Blue. Green. Like the Hope. Yes...like the Hope itself, locked away in damned D.C.
"I'm Clark. Ummm....I knew Lex in Smallville. I thought you could help--"
"Clark...what ARE you?"
Lightning flashed outside. She was certain she saw rosy cheeks. He chuckled lightly...
"I'm just Clark. Nobody. Well...somebody...somebody who cared greatly for Lex and wants to find out what happened to him."
This was no enemy. He certainly wasn't sent by Harley and her twisted clown spouse. Smallville?
He was strong. Big. Bigger than Bruce even. Probably not where it counted....but....he could kick some major ass, that's for sure. And floating! My God....he can probably fly. Keep it controlled, Cat....you still don't know why this character broke into your place...
"How did you get in, Clark? Why come to me?"
The lights returned....washing the room in their glow...
He's crying.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wayne....I-I-I...saw you...at the funeral in Metropolis...read in the Planet that you and Lex were friends....I didn't know how to reach you. Your office wouldn't take my calls. So I flew up here. And...I....watched you...."
"You watched me?" Ohhh....kinky....and cute....he'd better not get Bruce jealous...
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Wayne--"
"Selina. Always Selina. Nobody calls me Mrs. Wayne except Alfred."
He's smiling....such a sad smile. "T..Thank you. I am sorry I scared you."
Smallville? Meteor shower....years and years ago. Bruce spent millions trying to help the locals.
"You didn't scare me. I did nearly kill you."
"Yeah....ummm....like I said....I need to find out what happened to Lex."
Lex. The mention of his name brought back years of memories....again and again.... A truly decent guy. One of the few. What did this kid have to do with him? He's obviously much younger than Lex. Smallville....that bastard Lionel banished Lex there....yes....Bruce tried to get him to move to Gotham....but for some reason...some reason... *Clark* Lex stayed for quite a few years there...
"What were you to Lex Luthor, Clark?"
He's looking away again. Suspicious. Or Guilty. Maybe both. Don't tell him what you know. Got to talk to Bruce first. Bruce promised we would look into that. Secrets. Lex had so many.
"Ummm....Selina...Lex...he....he...I loved him."
Loved him? This is corn boy? Hot damn! I certainly see why, Lex. Oh yeah....I see why.
"He never mentioned you, I'm sorry."
His eyes are welling with tears. I don't want to hurt him....but--
"Lex is dead, Clark. Dead. And before he was dead he was married. Married, Clark. Do you know what that means?"
"Of...of course...I do."
He's looking down. Damn me for being cruel. But Lex is dead and this golden floating god standing in front of me can't change that. No one can.
"I miss him...." Clark breaks into tears and they fall wash over his cheeks.
"I do too, Clark."
"Was he happy before he died? I mean...umm...was his marriage happy?"
"I think so. As happy as most marriages are."
Are you sure, Selina?
"Good. I didn't want him to be alone. He was always afraid he would be left alone....he...umm....he....d..d...died alone....."
A wail escapes his lips and they tremble...
The sound breaks my heart.
I take his hand in mine... "Clark...Lex was happy....I promise....I want you to know that the Lex Luthor I knew was a wonderful man. My husband and he were great friends, people respected Lex....my husband--"
"H..H...H...Husband? Oh, man...if he comes--"
"You know who he is then?"
"Yeah....Bruce Wayne, right?"
"Yes."
"He's like the richest guy in Gotham City. Maybe even richer than Lex was."
He doesn't know.... Secrets.... Bruce...damn This kid can fly and somehow you've still stayed under whatever radar he has. Your mastery of stealth never fails to amaze me, husband... It also probably helps that I just remembered you're in Houston for a week trying to wrap up that deal with Royal Dutch Shell.
"My husband is very successful, Clark. But it's alright. I don't think anyone but me saw you here."
"Mrs. Wayne....Selina....please...please just answer this one question for me..."
"I'll try, Clark. Shoot."
"Do you have an idea of who might have killed Lex?"
Honestly I don't. Bruce and I have gone over every shred of evidence. Every tape. Every folder. Nothing.
Whoever did this seems to have vanished into the night. We did find that one thing...well.... Can't think about that now...
This poor kid. He must've really loved our pal Baldy. I loved you too, friend.
"No...Clark...and it is tearing all of us up. All of us who loved him. I wish I could help you."
Fucking lousy Metropolis Police. So-called Special Crimes Unit. They need a Cat in that town. And certainly a Bat.
His face is streaked. The lighting had stopped....the thunder is far away from here now...
"Would you like something to drink, Clark? Maybe sit down for a minute."
I really do feel sorry for him.
"No....umm....I gotta get home. Selina....I'm glad Lex had you for a buddy....I'm sorry I scared you....I am....please don't be mad."
"I'm not, Clark. Remember that Lex is gone. None of us can bring him back. You must grieve and move on, young man. Otherwise you will lose your own life to sadness."
Bruce....God....I don't want to see this guy end up like us.... He exudes goodness.... And quickly fading hope...
"Yeah...umm..well...it's late....I gotta go."
"Take care, Clark Kent. If you ever need to talk, you can come again. But please use the elevator next time."
My whip gives out pretty swift punishment, Clark. You got lucky.
"O.K.....good-bye, Mrs. Wayne."
A rush of air about me and he's gone.
No human can move that fast. No man. He's not a man. No wonder he was so damned polite.
Lex. Pat. Clark. Shit. Can't think anymore about any of this tonight.
Pat... Why haven't I called her lately?
Bruce...what will you think of all this? Clark....you are damned lucky you didn't break in here while the Bat was in residence... Pain.
Secrets...
Purr........
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They sat together every day. Every night.
Neglecting chores. Neglecting feedings.
They waited for his daily call.
Their child was hurting. Sure, he was a 6'4, 225 pounder.... But he was still their little boy.
The letters... They'd found him sprawled on the barn floor, weeping....his fists pounding into the dirt...making ten foot holes and ruining the foundation....
The letters... Lex had really cared for him....but had gone away to let Clark live his own life.
Now....Clark's life was filled with tears.
Everyday. He called. Same time.
"Kelex told the funniest joke." "Lara's holoimage showed me Argo City...it was beautiful." "Kelex just told another funny joke."
Somehow they knew he wasn't at the fortress. Their son was a horrible liar. Always had been, thank God.
The sounds of city traffic and horns and bells gave it away.
Still...they let him keep up the illusion that he was safe, encased in his icy Kryptonian wonderland thousands of miles away...
They had to trust him. Trust him to be a man. Do what he felt he had to. In his own way. On his own terms.
They knew in their hearts Clark would find a way to deal with all of this. They had raised him to be a fine man. Jor-El & Lara had given him gifts and wonders unknown to any on Earth.
"I miss you and I love you both so much!"
Jonathan & Martha Kent had given him a conscience and a soul...and as they sat watching the moon rise, they knew Clark would come through.
***************************************************************************
He'd made sure no one was around.
He'd been here before. Just after the funeral.
He came here often now.
He saw him. Lex..... Lex.....
That smile.
He pressed his lips to the photograph....and felt the frame break....
(The camera sensed movement...whirred to life....filming....sending its digitized images...)
"I love you," he whispered....
Somewhere else, someone grinned as they watched a nervous Clark rush about the penthouse...frantically picking up shards of glass.
(shards....secrets....of the past....)
END of Secrets
HE WAS MARKED FOR MURDER will continue...
